Why Jetpack Backup Deserves a Closer Look
CSS-Tricks runs on WordPress, and like many WordPress sites, we lean on Jetpack for a range of functionality — from instant search and security scans to social integrations and custom blocks. But one capability we haven't spent much time on is Jetpack Backup, and it turns out to be one of the most valuable tools in the Jetpack suite.
Source code is relatively easy to protect with version control like GitHub. The harder problem is everything else: images, uploaded files, and especially the database. Losing any of that can be catastrophic, and it's exactly the kind of data that typical code-level backups don't cover.
What Jetpack Backup Covers
Jetpack Backup handles both files and the database, offering two plan tiers for different site needs:
- Daily backups — suitable for most sites with moderate update frequency.
- Real-time backups — designed for high-activity sites like forums or eCommerce stores where losing recent orders or updates would be costly.
Flexible Pricing and Additional Tools
One of the more practical aspects of Jetpack Backup is that it's sold à la carte. If backup protection is the only feature you need, you can purchase it without any of the other Jetpack modules. That said, if you do want the full set of features — the kind we use across CSS-Tricks — they integrate seamlessly and can be enabled with just a few clicks.
Jetpack Backup also includes an activity log, which is useful beyond simply monitoring site activity. The log can help you zero in on when and where something went wrong, making troubleshooting far easier than sifting through guesswork.
For a more detailed walkthrough of how we've set up Jetpack Backup here, Chris covers the entire configuration in the video above.
